56 BIRDS OP ILLINOIS. 



Genus LIMOSA Bris,son. 



Limosa Bkisson. Orn. v, ITCO, 261. Type, Scnlopax limosa Linn. 



Char. Bill lengthened, exceeding the tarsus, slender, and curving gently upwards, 

 erooved to near the tip, the latter not attenuated. Tarsus with transv ^rse scutcllae before 

 and behind, reticulated laterally. A short basal membrane between the middle and outer 

 toes. Bill much longer than head, nearly equaling tarsi and toes together, curving gently 

 upwards from the base, where it is elevated and compressed, depressed, however, at the 

 end. The grooves on sides of bill and beneath extend nearly to the tip: the tip of the upper 

 mandible is thickened, and extends a little below the lower. The gape is slight, not exceed- 

 ing beyond the base of eulmen; the feathers on the siile of the bill reach forward to about 

 the same point, those on the chin a little farther. Tarsus more than one and one half times 

 the toes, twice the bare part of tibiie; hind toe lengthened; outer toe webbed as far as end 

 of first joint, inner toe with only a short basal web. Tail short, even, two fifths the wings. 



In some respects the bill of this g;eiius resembles that of Macro- 

 rhoAnphfua, the chief apparent difference being the upward curve 

 of the one and its straightness in the other. 



But two species are known to occur in Illinois. Two others 

 are included in the North American fauna, one, L. limosa 

 (Linn.) — the Black-tailed Godwit — by reason of its accidental 

 occurrence in Greenland, the other, L. Jiqqxniica haiwri (Naum.) 

 — the Pacific Godwit — occurring abundantl3' on the coasts and 

 islands of Alaska. Since the occurrence of either of these species 

 in Illinois is very unlikely, it is not thought worth while to in- 

 clude them in the following synopsis: 



1. L. fedoa. Tail narrowly barred; axillars and lining of wing oeliraceous. Prevailing color 

 ochraceous. the head and neck streaked, the remaining upper parts barred with brown- 

 ish dusky ; axiUars and lining of the wing deep cinnamon-ochre. Wing. 8.5iM*.i}0; oulmen. 



• 3..'in-5.00: tarsus, 2.75-3.00; middle-toe. 1.40. 



2, L. haemastioa. Tail black, with white base and tip; axillars uniform smoky blackish. 

 Upper tai!-coverts crossed by a wide band of pure white; longer upper tail-coverts, en- 

 tire rump, and axiUars, uniform dusky; lining of wing du.'^ky, spotted with white out- 

 wardly. Summer plumage: Beneath, chest nut barred with dusky; above, mottled black- 

 ish. Winter plinnntie: Beneath, whitish, without markings, the breast and jugulum gray- 

 ish; above, uniform brownish gray, except rump, upper tail-coverts, and tail. Young: 

 Beneath, light grayi.sh clay-color, darker on bn^ast; above, brownish gray, feathers 

 bordered with ochraceous, and somewhat spotted with dusty. Wing, 8.10-S.60; eulmen. 

 2.85-3. .(S; tarsus. 2.25-2.50; middle-toe. 1.15-1.30. 



